Power transmission



July 21, 1959 A. HUDSON POWER TRANSMISSION Filed March 1, 1954 l 5o| 68I 7O 0 O a ,4 I 14 Q 0 a2 x I 201 p29 22 96 (2a a 6 9 I6 66 62 S 7 so 44 47 I 8 4 2 O 82 76 92 8 74 52 FT] P INVENTOR.

V GEORGE A. HUDSON ATTORNEY 3 United States Patent C) 2,895,427 i owERTRANSMISSION George A. Hudson, Berkley, Mieh., assignpr to VickersIncorporated, Detroit; Mich., a corporation of Michigan ApplicationMarch 1, 1954, Serial No. 413,359

7 Claims. (Cl. 103-218 it has been customary to provide mounting meansfor the pump completely within the tank and to have the plumbing fromthe discharge side of the pump and return from the system projectingthrough the side wall of the tank. In structures of this type it hasbeen diflicult to seal the plumbing extending through the side wall ofthe tank which is essential to prevent the fluid in the tank fromleaking therefrom and diminishing the proper reserve supply of fluid andin addition to prevent dirt and foreign matter entering the tank andcontaminating the fluid supply. This type of structure has also createdassembly and maintenance problems because the pump first has to befastened to mounting structure, the plumbing connected and then the topfastened to the tank. When the pump has to be serviced even for thereplacement of a seal it is first necessary to remove the top from thetank and then to unloosen the pump from its mounting structure withinthe tank. In addition plumbing lines within the tank have to bedisconnected fromthe pump.

; not shown, in a pressure plate 41.

2,895,427 Patented July 21, 1959 2 structure to be explained in order toprovide a pump and tank unit substantially of the form illustrated.

The housihg of the pump 12 is in three sections comprising a main bodyportion 14, a center ring section 16 and an end cover section 18. Themain body portion is formed with an inlet passage 20 having branches 22and 24 leading to diametrically opposed inlet fluid Zones, not shown. Arotor 26 provided with a plurality of sliding vanes 28 is mounted withinthe ring 16, the inner surface of the ring indicated by the numeral 30forming a vane track of substantially elliptical contour to formpressure and suction working ramps for the vanes. The rotor is driven bya shaft 32 having external splines 34 on the inner end thereof matingwith internal splines 36 of the rotor. The shaft is rotatably mounted atthe 0pposite end in bearings 38 mounted in the body section 14 and isprovided with a rotary shaft seal 40 in the same section adjoining thebearings 38.

The vanes as they pass through the pressure ramp are adapted todischarge fluid through two diametrically opposed fluid outlet zonesmating with outlet porting, The outlet porting extends through thepressure plate to a pressure chamber 42 formed in the end cover 18. Oneside of the pressure plate 41 indicated by the numeral 44 is adapted tobe maintained against the ring and in sealing engagement with the rotorby means of pressure fluid delivered to the pressure chamber 42 throughthe outlet porting extending through the plate and which acts againstthe opposing surface of the pressure plate indicated by the numeral 46.Passages 47 in the pressure plate 41 connect the pressure chamber 42 tothe inner ends of vane slots 49 for the pur pose of maintaining outletpressure at the inner ends of the vanes to maintain the outer ends ofthe vanes in contact with the vane track. A spring 48 abutting the innerside of the end cover 18 and the pressure plate 41 maintains the platein proper sealing relation with the ring and rotor at starting and atextremely low pressures. The shaft 32 is splined at the end thereofextending from the housing 14 and indicated by the numeral 50 fordriving connection, for example, with the power take-off means of avehicle such as a tractor.

It is therefore a general object of this invention to pro It is afurther object of this iuventiorito provide a power unit comprising afluid supply tank and fluid pump which alleviates the recited problemsand. diflicultiesinvolved with priorforms of suchunits,

It is still another object to provide an improved fluid supply tank andpump power unit which is low in cost, which simplifies assembly andmaintenance, and which is eflicient over a long and useful life.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearlyshown.

In the drawingi v.

Figure l is a top view partly in section of a fluid pump and tank unitembodying a preferred form of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the pump and tank unit shown inFigure 1 Referring to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a fluid tankindicated generally by the numeral 10 within which is a rotary vane pumpindicated by the numeral 12. The interior Working members of the pumpare substantially of the type disclosed in the "patent to Gardiner, No.2,544,988, although it should be understood that other forms of pumpsmay be utilized providing that'the housing therefor is constructed tocooperate with"the"tank The tank 10 is provided with a top cover 52which may be suitably fastened by screws indicated by the numeral 54. Afiller cap assembly indicated generally by the numeral 56 is providedfor a filler pipe 58 on the cover 52 leading to the interior of tank 18.

Two opposing sidewalls 60 and 62 of the tank 10 are respectivelyconstructed with oppositely arranged 0penings 64 and 66 in which thepump housing may be mounted. The pump housing is formed with a hub 68 atthe shaft end thereof which is mounted in the opening 64 thereby closingthe same and with the shaft 32 extending from the opening. The hub 68may be provided with a groove 70 in which an O-ring 72 is mounted forproper sealing between the hub and opening 64. The end cover 18 of thepump 12 is formed with an outwardly extendindicated by the numeral isadapted to be mounted within the opening 66. A gasket 82 may be utilizedbetween the flange 74 and the outer surface 78 of the side wall 62providing proper sealing therebetween.

The end cover 18, ring member 16 and body section 14 may be suitablyfastened to each other by screws indicated by the numeral 84 while theflange portion of the end cover 18 is fastened to the side wall .62 ofthe tank 10 by screws indicated by the numeral 86. An externalconnection pressure delivery port 88 and an external connection returnport 90 are formed in the end cover 18 the former of which extendsdirectly to the pressure chamber 42 which performs the function of adelivery passage and the latter of which mates with a return port 92 inthe side wall 62 from which a tube 94' may lead to the interior of thetank IQ in close proximity to the opening of the inlet passageindicatedv by the numeral 96.

The tank may be mounted on the frame of a vehicle such as a tractor byscrews inserted through the frame into threaded mounting pad holes inthe side wall 60 indicated by the numeral 98.

It should be noted that the end cover 18 may be provided with a flangecomprising a valve block including the pressure and return porting shownwhich may lead respectively from the pressure chamber and to theinterior of the tank and in which block directional, pressure relief andflow control valves or any combination thereof may be mounted forcontrolling a hydraulic system adapted to operate a load device ordevices.

It should thus be noted that the construction of the tank and pumphousing cooperate to alleviate assembly, mounting, maintenance, andplumbing problems. No special mounting structure is needed to beprovided within the tank as the opening provided in one of the sidewalls provides a mounting for the hub of the pump. The hub of the pumpcloses the opening in the side wall which may" be simply and efficientlysealed by the use of an inexpensive G-ring. The other end of the housingis mounted in the opening provided in the opposite side wall and thepump is. securely maintained by the flange 74. An inexpensive gasket maybe utilized to cooperate with the end cover 18' in proper sealing of theenlarged opening. Plumbing does not have to be disconnected in theinterior of the tank when the pump is removed. The screws fastening theend cover 18 to the side wall are removed and the entire pump structuremay be pulled from the tank. When a flexible hose connection is utilizedat the pressure and return connections, it is possible to remove thepump without disconnection of any plumbing.

The shaft is exposed at one end thereof Within the opening forming asliding connection with the power take-ofl means of the vehicle, and theconnections for the hydrau li'c system are conveniently arranged at theopposite flange. end of the pump which is on the exterior side wall ofthe tankfor ease of installation of plumbing connections.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosedconstitutes a preferred form, it is to be, understood that other formsmight be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A combined pump and reservoir adapted for containment of fluid otsupply said pump and comprising a reservoir including two opposed wallseach having an. opening therein and forming mounting portions, a pumphaving a housing supported in the mounting portions and extendingthrough the reservoir openings to present two exposedouter surfaces, oneat each of said walls of the reservoir, a pump delivery passage formedin the housing and opening to one of the exposed outer surfaces at oneof said sidewalls, a drive shaft projecting from theother. outer surfaceand through the opening provided in the other side wall, and meansforming fluid tight seals between the pump housing and the opposed wallsof 'the reservoir.

2. A hydraulic power transmission unit comprising in. combination afluid reservoir adapted for containment of. fluid for supplying a pump,said reservoir including two opposed side walls having opposed openingstherethrough. and forming mounting portions in the side walls, a fluidpump including a housing having a spaced apart hub and a flange, saidhousing being supported at the hub in one mounting portion and adjacentthe flange in the other mounting portion, said flange having a innersurface immediately adjoining the outer surface of the side wall.containing the other mounting portion, a pump drive shaft 4 mountedinthe housing and projecting from the hub through the opening provided inthe other side wall, and means for fastening the flange to theimmediately adjoining side wall whereby the pump may be removed andreplaced in the openings.

3. A hydraulic power transmission unit comprising in combination a fluidreservoir adapted for containment of fluid for supplying a pump, saidreservoir including two opposed side wall'shaving opposed openingstherethrough and forming mounting: portions in the side. walls, a fluidpump including a housing having a spaced apart hub and a flange; saidhousing beingv supported at the hub in one mounting portion and adjacentthe flange in the other mounting portion, said flange having a innersurface immediately adjoining the outer surface of the side wallcontaining the other mounting portion, a pump drive shaft mounted in thehousing and projecting from the hub through the opening forming the hubmounting portion, sealing means between the hub and its mountingportion, means forming. a pump delivery passage in the housing andhaving an opening in the flange, and means for fastening the flange tothe. immediately adjoining side wall whereby the pump may be removed andreplaced in the openings.

4. A combined pump and reservoir adapted for containment of fluid tosupply said pump comprising a reser- V voir including. two opposed sidewalls each of which is prising a stator having two. extreme endmountable portions, and a. rotor having a shaft in driving relationextending. from one ofthe extreme ends of the stator, the

extreme. ends of the stator conforming substantially in area andshapewith the mounting portions formed in the openings of the side walls andmounted therein with the shaft extending through one of said openings, aflange formed at the other extreme end of the stator and having an innersurface adjoining and abutting the exterior surface of the immediatelyadjoining side wall surrounding the opening. thereof, means forming aninlet supply passage in the. stator opening to the interior of thereservoir, means forminga delivery passage in the stator and having anopeningin the said other extreme end of the stator, and means forfastening the flange to the said immediately adjoining. side wallwhereby the pump may be removed andreplaced inthe openings.

5. A combined pump and reservoir adapted for containment of fluid tosupply said pump comprising a reservoir having two opposed parallel sidewalls, each having an. opening therein forming. a mounting portion, apump having a housing supported in the mounting portions,

face portion thereof, a pump delivery passage in the housing and having.an opening in the other exposed outer. surface portion, and. meansfastening the flange to the immediately adjoining side wall whereby thepump may be removed and replaced in the openings.

6. A combined pump and reservoir for use in a hydraulicpowertransmissionsystem and adapted for containment of fluid to supply said pumpcomprising a reser-- voir having two opposed parallel side walls, eachhaving an opening therein forming a mounting portion, a pump: having. ahousing supported in. the mounting portions, said. housing extendingthrough the openings to present: two exposed. outer surfaces, one ateach side wall of the reservoir, a drive shaft projecting from one'outer surface:

through the opening in one of said side walls, a flange.

formedv on the.housing at the other exposed outer sur- 3 of which opensto said other outer surface and comprises a pump delivery passage, meansforming a system return passage having an opening in the flange andleading through the flange and adjoining side wall to the interior ofthe reservoir.

7. A combined pump and reservoir adapted for containment of fluid tosupply said pump comprising a reservoir having two opposed parallel sidewalls, each having an opening therein forming a mounting portion, a pumphaving a housing including two extreme end mountable portions supportedin the mounting portions of the side walls, a drive shaft extending fromone extreme end of the housing through the opening in one of said sidewalls, a flange formed on the other extreme end of the housing,

means for fastening the flange to the immediately adjoining side wallwhereby the pump may be removed and replaced in the openings, meansforming two passages in the housing one of which is a pump inlet supplypas- 6 sage and provided with an opening to the interior of thereservoir, the other of which is a pump delivery passage and providedwith an opening in the said other extreme end of the housing, and meansforming a passage having an opening in the flange and leading to theinterior of the reservoir.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,413,035 De Lancey a Dec. 24, 1946 2,544,987 Gardiner et a1 Mar. 13,1951 2,646,756 Peguet July 28, 1953 2,653,548 Bodensieck Sept. 29, 19532,662,483 Smith et a1. Dec. 15, 1953 2,672,819 Widmer Mar. 23, 19542,759,423 Keel Aug. 21, 1956

